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R&B star Beyonce has announced that scheduling conflicts forced her to pull out of Clint Eastwood’s upcoming remake of “A Star Is Born.” She told E! News, “For months we tried to coordinate our schedules to bring this remake to life but it was just not possible. Hopefully in the future we will get a chance to work together.” According to Variety, jazz bassist and singer Esperanza Spalding is being considered for the female lead role.

Opera Star to Visit Space

British soprano singer Sarah Brightman listens journalists during news conference in Moscow, Russia, Oct. 10, 2012 to announce that she will become the first-ever global recording artist to take a spaceflight, teaming up with Space Adventures for a journe

British opera singer Sarah Brightman plans to spend 10 days in space visiting the International Space Station. “Throughout most of my life I’ve felt an incredible desire to take the journey to space that I have now begun," she explained during a press conference in Moscow. "A journey into space is the greatest adventure I can imagine.” Before making the space flight in a Russian rocket, Brightman will perform a year-long world tour to support her new album, Dreamchaser. That will be followed by six months of cosmonaut training in Star City, Russia. Only seven other private citizens have paid their way into space. The last was Canadian Cirque du Soleil creator Guy Laliberte, who reportedly paid $35 million.

New Artists Dominate Billboard 200

Seven of the top 10 spots on this week’s Billboard 200 chart are new entries. Debuting at Number 2 is “The 2nd Law” by Muse. “Kaleidoscope Dream” by Miguel comes in at Number 3. Landing on the list at Number 5 is “Transit of Venus” by Three Days Grace. The others include “Glad Rag Doll” by Diana Krall at Number 6, “Songs From the Silver Screen” by Jackie Evancho at Number 7, “Sticks & Stones” by Cher Lloyd at Number 9 and “Born To Sing: No Plan B” by Van Morrison at Number 10.

One Direction Sets Billboard Record

Members of British-Irish band One Direction pose after performing on NBC's "Today" show in New York March 12, 2012.

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Members of British-Irish band One Direction pose after performing on NBC's "Today" show in New York March 12, 2012.

British boy band One Direction sets a new record on this week’s Hot 100 chart. The group’s new single, “Live While We’re Young,” debuts at Number 3, which is the highest entry by a U.K. band in the chart’s 54-year history. According to Billboard, only 13 songs by a U.K. act have made Top 10 entries on the Hot 100 chart. One of the 13 is Adele, who debuts this week at Number 8 with the theme to the upcoming James Bond film, “Skyfall.” That marks her highest entry ever on the Hot 100 chart.

Sugarland, 38 Special Among Georgia Music Hall of Fame Inductees

Since their 2002 debut release, Kristian Bush and Jennifer Nettles have seen their four albums top the country charts and their fan base grow into the millions.

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Since their 2002 debut release, Kristian Bush and Jennifer Nettles have seen their four albums top the country charts and their fan base grow into the millions.

The 34th annual Georgia Music Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place on October 14 in Atlanta. The 2012 inductees are Country duo Sugarland, southern rock group 38 Special, Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Gary Rossington, singer-songwriter Riley Biederer and concert promoter Alex Hodges. Being recognized posthumously are late blues guitarist Jonny Jenkins, WSB personality Bog Van Camp and local DJ Bobby Harper.
On October 16, Darius Rucker will officially become the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry. During his October 2 performance at the Opry’s 87th birthday show, the announcer asked Darius if he would take questions from the audience. After answering questions from a couple of his female fans, a man in a white cowboy hat stood up and took the microphone. It was Country star Brad Paisley, who said, “I have two questions. One, are you still the worst poker player the world? And two, would you like to become the newest member of the Grand Ole Opry?” Darius broke down in tears and replied, “Yes I would! You guys are here for one of the most special nights of my life. Thank you for sharing it with me.”

New Album Releases / October 16:

“Night Train” by Jason Aldean, “Pines” by A Fine Frenzy, “Two Eleven” by Brandy, “Living For A Song: A Tribute to Hank Cochran” by Jamey Johnson, “Sunken Condos” by Donald Fagen, “By My Side” by Ben Harper, “Songs” by Placido Domingo, “Wood” by Widespread Panic, “Very Merry Perri Christmas” by Christina Perri, “A Very Special Christmas: Bringing Peace On Earth” by various artists, “A Very Special Christmas: 25 Years” by various artists, “Christmas with Scotty McCreery” by Scotty McCreery and “Heavenly Christmas” by Jackie Evancho.

Musical Events/Festivals/Benefits:

On October 14, Country star Dierks Bentley will host his 13th Miles & Music for Kids motorcycle ride in Nashville. Over the years, the charity event has raised more than two-million-dollars for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. After the ride, Bentley will appear in concert at Nashville’s Riverfront Park. He’ll be joined by Sheryl Crow, Chris Young, Brantley Gilbert, Craig Campbell and the Cadillac Black.

The Zac Brown Band’s second annual “Southern Ground Music & Food Festival” takes place October 20 and 21 in Charleston, South Carolina. The festival will feature nightly concerts by the Zac Brown Band, the Avett Brothers, Grace Potter & the Nocturnals, the Wailers, the Charlie Daniels Band, and many others. Fans can also check out various craft vendors and a mobile kitchen offering some of Zac Brown’s favorite recipes and food from local Charleston restaurants.

Star Birthdays

Natalie Maines, lead singer of the Dixie Chicks, will turn 38 on October 14. The Dixie Chicks arrived on the Country music scene in 1998 with their debut album, “Wide Open Spaces.” With sales exceeding 12 million copies in the U.S. alone, the collection became the biggest-selling album by a Country duo or group. The Dixie Chicks’ next CD, “Fly,” released in 1999, sold 10 million copies and produced eight chart hits. In 2002, the Dixie Chicks released the album “Home” on their own Sony Records imprint, Open Wide Records. The following year, Natalie criticized President Bush’s decision to go to war with Iraq, but later apologized for the disrespectful comments she made about him to a London audience. Many U.S. radio stations responded to her remarks by pulling the Dixie Chicks’ songs from their playlists. During a 2003 interview in Germany, they said they “don’t feel part of the Country scene any longer. We now consider ourselves part of the big rock and roll family.” In 2004, Natalie gave birth to her second son, Beckett Finn Pasdar. His older brother, Jackson Slade Pasdar, is now 11 years old. In 2006, the Dixie Chicks recorded “Taking the Long Way,” which brought them five Grammy Awards. Their wins included Album of the Year and Country Album of the Year, and Song of the Year, Record of the Year and Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal for the album’s hit single, “Not Ready To Make Nice.” A few months ago, Natalie announced on her Twitter page that she’s working on a solo album that she hopes to release next spring.

On October 14, British pop/rock singer Cliff Richard will celebrate his 72nd birthday. Richard’s biggest hits on the American pop charts were “Devil Woman” and “We Don’t Talk Anymore.” Those tunes and many others are included on his 1994 anthology, “Cliff Richard Collection (1976-1994).” In 1998, Richard marked his 40th year in music with the release of the studio album, “Real As I Wanna Be.” To celebrate his 60th birthday in 2000, EMI Records released the compilation album, “Cliff Richard - The Whole Story: His Greatest Hits.” Richard’s 2001 studio album, “Wanted,” was issued only in the U.K., New Zealand and Australia. His next U.K. releases were “Something’s Goin’ On” (2004), “Two’s Company” (2006) and “Love…The Album” (2007). He celebrated his 50th anniversary in music in 2008 with two compilations, “And They Said It Wouldn’t Last (My 50 Years In Music)” and “The 50th Anniversary Album.” Richard splits his time between homes in Portugal and Barbados. His latest album, “Soulicious,” features duets with Billy Paul, Brenda Holloway, Candi Staton, Dennis Edwards and The Temptations Review, Freda Payne, Percy Sledge, Roberta Flack and Valerie Simpson.

Musician John Mayer

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Musician John Mayer

Pop-rock singer-songwriter John Mayer turns 35 on October 16. Mayer grew up in Fairfield, Connecticut and moved to Atlanta, Georgia in 1998. There, he quickly made a name for himself by playing in local coffeehouses and nightclubs. His debut album, “Room For Squares,” was released in 2001. The following year, he scored a smash hit with its Grammy-winning track “Your Body Is A Wonderland.” Mayer won a second Grammy Award in 2005 for “Daughters” from his album “Heavier Things.” The biggest hit from Mayer’s 2006 solo album, “Continuum,” was the Top 20 single “Waiting on the World to Change.” His 2008 concert album, “Where the Light Is: Live In Los Angeles,” was recorded at the Nokia Theater in December 2007. Its track “Gravity” won a Grammy Award for Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance. Mayer’s 2009 album, “Battle Studies,” debuted at Number One on the Billboard 200. He was forced to delay the release of his latest album “Born and Raised” after being diagnosed with a throat condition called granuloma. The album was finally released this past May, but the granuloma returned, which led him to cancel his tour plans.

On October 17, Detroit rapper Eminem will celebrate his 38th birthday. Born Marshall Mathers, he began performing in his early teens. In 1999, Eminem made his recording debut with the multi-million-selling album, “The Slim Shady LP.” His 2000 collection, “The Marshall Mathers Album,” sold five million copies in the U.S. its first month of release. Two years later, he recorded “The Eminem Show and also starred in the motion picture “8 Mile.” Its soundtrack produced the Academy Award-winning song “Lose Yourself.” In 2004, he recorded the album “D-12 World” with his side group D-12. Eminem’s 2004 album, “Encore,” produced the hits “Just Lose It” and his rap version of James Taylor and Carly Simon’s “Mockingbird.” The video to “Just Lose It” was banned from cable channel BET (Black Entertainment Television). In it, Eminem spoofs Michael Jackson, which led the late self-proclaimed “King of Pop” to ask for a total ban of the video. Michael called it “outrageous and disrespectful.” In 2005, Eminem cancelled a European tour and checked himself into a hospital to undergo treatment for a dependency to sleep medication. Eminem’s book, “The Way I Am,” was published in 2008. In 2009, Interscope Records issued “Relapse,” Eminem’s first studio album since 2004. His latest release, “Recovery,” became Eminem’s sixth consecutive Number One album and also produced two Number One hits, “Not Afraid” and his duet with Rihanna, “Love the Way You Lie.” Last year, “The Eminem Show” and “The Marshall Mathers LP” were each certified Diamond for shipments of 10 million copies. Eminem is currently working on his eighth studio album.

Country singer Alan Jackson turns 54 on October 17. The Georgia native debuted on the Country charts in 1990 with his Top 5 album “Here In the Real World.” Alan’s early Number One hits include “Don’t Rock the Jukebox,” “She’s Got the Rhythm (and I Got the Blues),” Chattahoochee” and “Gone Country.” In 1995, Arista Records released Jackson’s multi-million-selling “Greatest Hits Collection.” His 1996 album, “Everything I Love,” produced six chart hits. Jackson’s next two releases were 1998’s “High Mileage” and his 1999 collection of cover tunes “Under the Influence.” Those were followed by his 2000 album “When Somebody Loves You” and 2002’s “Drive.” “Drive” included Jackson’s poignant response to the September 11th attacks, “Where Were You When the World Stopped Turning.” Also in 2002, Alan recorded his first holiday collection, “Let It Be Christmas.” His 2003 anthology, “Greatest Hits Volume II and Some Other Stuff” produced the long-running Number One duet with Jimmy Buffett “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere.” Alan’s next CD, “What I Do,” included the hits “Too Much of a Good Thing,” “Monday Morning Church,” “The Talkin’ Song Repair Blues” and “USA Today.” In 2006, he recorded two albums. The first was “Precious Memories,” a gospel collection recorded as a gift to his mother. It won the Country Music Association Award for Album of the Year. Later that same year, “Like Red On A Rose” was released. 2008’s “Good Time” became Alan’s ninth Number One album. His 2010 release, “Freight Train” was his first since 1999 to not debut at Number One. Alan received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2010. This past May, he performed a free concert for the residents of Mineral, Virginia. The town was at the epicenter of the August 23, 2011 earthquake that was felt along the entire East Coast. Alan is currently performing a U.S. tour to support his new album, “Thirty Miles West.”

On October 18, legendary singer and guitarist Chuck Berry will celebrate his 86th birthday. Berry's first single, “Maybellene,” was released in 1955 and quickly made its way to Number 5 on the pop charts. Other hits followed, including “School Day,” “Sweet Little Sixteen” and his signature song, “Johnny B. Goode.” In 1972, he scored a Number One hit with his novelty tune, “My Ding-A-Ling.” Berry won the Lifetime Achievement Grammy Award in 1984, and two years later, he was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame. Berry still performs live shows. On October 27, he’ll be honored at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum’s 2012 American Music Masters tribute concert. The show will wrap up the Hall of Fame’s week-long celebration, “Roll Over Beethoven: The Life and Music of Chuck Berry.”

October 19 marks the birth date of the late reggae singer Peter Tosh (b. 1944). Tosh was an original member of Bob Marley’s Wailers, as well as a successful solo artist. In 1987, robbers killed Tosh at his home in Kingston, Jamaica.

Rock singer/guitarist Tom Petty will turn 59 on October 20. In 1975, he founded Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers. The group recorded such hits as “Don’t Do Me Like That” and the 1981 Top 5 duet with Stevie Nicks, “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around.” Petty also recorded two albums with the Traveling Wilburys. The group also included George Harrison, Jeff Lynne and Bob Dylan. Petty’s 1994 album, “Wildflowers,” featured the singles “You Don’t Know How It Feels,” “A Higher Place” and “It’s Good To Be King.” Five years passed before the release of his next studio collection, “Echo.” Petty’s 2006 album, “Highway Companion,” entered the Billboard 200 chart at Number 4 to become his highest debut ever. Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002. Three years later, Petty received a Century Award, Billboard’s highest award for creative achievement. Reprise Records released Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers’ latest album, “Mojo,” in 2010.

Awards Presentations /Winners:

Nicki Minaj's "Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded" CD

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Nicki Minaj's "Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded" CD

Nicki Minaj and Rihanna lead the contenders for the 40th annual American Music Awards. They each received four nominations, including Favorite Female Pop/Rock Artist. Rihanna is mentioned in the Artist of the Year category with Justin Bieber, Drake, Maroon 5 and Katy Perry. The New Artist of the Year nominees are J. Cole, fun., Gotye, Carly Rae Jepsen and One Direction. Triple nominees include Justin Bieber, One Direction, Maroon 5, Drake and Usher. The 2012 American Music Awards will be presented on November 18 in Los Angeles. (Complete list of nominees available at www.abc.go.com/shows/american-music-awards.

Luke Bryan is the top nominee for this year’s American Country Awards. His seven nods include Artist of the Year, Album of the Year for “Tailgates & Tanlines” and Single of the Year for “I Don’t Want This Night To End.” Following close behind with six nominations apiece are the Zac Brown Band and Lady Antebellum. Eric Church and Taylor Swift collected five mentions each. The third annual American Country Awards will be handed out on December 10 during a live ceremony from Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. (See complete list of nominees at www.theacas.com )

Manned deep space missions are still a long way off, but space agencies are already testing procedures, equipment and human stamina for operations in extreme environment conditions. Small groups of astronauts take turns in spending days in an underwater lab, off Florida’s southern coast, simulating future missions to some remote world. VOA’s George Putic reports.

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Manned deep space missions are still a long way off, but space agencies are already testing procedures, equipment and human stamina for operations in extreme environment conditions. Small groups of astronauts take turns in spending days in an underwater lab, off Florida’s southern coast, simulating future missions to some remote world. VOA’s George Putic reports.

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Fifty years ago, lawmakers approved, and U.S. President Lyndon Johnson signed, the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The measure outlawed racial discrimination in voting, giving millions of blacks in many parts of the southern United States federal enforcement of the right to vote. Correspondent Chris Simkins introduces us to some civil rights leaders who were on the front lines in the struggle for voting rights.

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Billions of dollars of so-called ‘dirty money’ from the proceeds of crime - especially from Russia - are being laundered through the London property market, according to anti-corruption activists. As Henry Ridgwell reports from the British capital, the government has pledged to crack down on the practice.

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Ottawa, Illinois, is the hometown of W.D. Boyce, who founded the Boy Scouts of America in 1910. In Ottawa, where Scouting remains an important part of the legacy of the community, the end of the organization's ban on openly gay adult leaders was seen as inevitable. VOA's Kane Farabaugh reports.

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Artificial limbs, including the most complex of them – the human hand – are getting more life-like and useful due to constant advances in tiny hydraulic, pneumatic and electric motors called actuators. But now, as VOA’s George Putic reports, scientists in Germany say the future of the prosthetic hand may lie not in motors but in wires that can ‘remember’ their shape.

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A British pro-democracy group has accused Russia of abusing the global law enforcement agency Interpol by requesting the arrest and extradition of political opponents. A new report by the group notes such requests can mean the accused are unable to travel and are often unable to open bank accounts. VOA's Henry Ridgwell reports.

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Talks on a major new trade agreement among 12 Pacific Rim nations are said to be nearing completion in Hawaii. Some trade experts say the "positive atmosphere" at the discussions could mean a deal is within reach, but there is still hard bargaining to be done over many issues and products, including U.S. drugs and Japanese rice. VOA's Jim Randle reports.

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Earth is in the midst of its sixth mass extinction. The last such event was caused by an asteroid 66 million years ago. It killed off the dinosaurs and practically everything else. So scientists are in a race against time to classify the estimated 11 million species alive today. So far only 2 million are described by science, and researchers are worried many will disappear before they even have a name. VOA’s Rosanne Skirble reports.

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Scientists have long been trying to develop an effective protection and cure for malaria - one of the deadliest diseases that affects people in tropical areas, especially children. As the World Health Organization announces plans to begin clinical trials of a promising new vaccine, scientists in South Africa report that they too are at an important threshold. George Putic reports, they are testing a compound that could be a single-dose cure for malaria.

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The latest issue of 'New York' magazine features 35 women who say they were drugged and raped by film and television celebrity Bill Cosby. The women are aged from 44 to 80 and come from different walks of life and races. The magazine interviewed each of them separately, but Zlatica Hoke reports their stories are similar.

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The United States is promising not to give up its fight against what Secretary of State John Kerry calls the “scourge” of modern slavery. Officials released the country’s annual human trafficking report Monday – a report that’s being met with some criticism. VOA’s National Security correspondent Jeff Seldin has more from the State Department.

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Abandoned more than 50 years ago, the underground streetcar station in Washington D.C.’s historic DuPont Circle district is about to be reborn. The plan calls for turning the spacious underground platforms - once meant to be a transportation hub, - into a unique space for art exhibitions, presentations, concerts and even a film set. Roman Mamonov has more from beneath the streets of the U.S. capital. Joy Wagner narrates his report.

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Greece has replaced Italy as the main gateway for migrants into Europe, with more than 100,000 arrivals in the first six months of 2015. Many want to move further into Europe and escape Greece’s economic crisis, but they face widespread dangers on the journey overland through the Balkans. VOA's Henry Ridgwell reports.

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After the closure of a major rubbish dump a week ago, the streets of Beirut are filling up with trash. Having failed to draw up a plan B, politicians are struggling to deal with the problem. John Owens has more for VOA from Beirut.

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A U.N. climate conference in December aims to produce an ambitious agreement to fight heat-trapping greenhouse gases. But many local governments are not waiting, and have drafted their own climate action plans. That’s the case with Paris — which is getting special attention, since it’s hosting the climate summit. Lisa Bryant takes a look for VOA at the transformation of the French capital into an eco-city.